Summary

• 25% of Tom Bombadil's dialogue in The Rings of Power season 2 is pulled directly from J.R.R. Tolkien's writing.
• Bombadil remains a mysterious figure, and he's been around in Middle-earth for thousands of years.
• Bombadil's manner of speaking and characterizations could make him a challenge to include in The Rings of Power season 2.

The Rings of Power season 2 is set to introduce several new characters into the mix, including Rory Kinnear's Bombadil, who featured in Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Ring.

In a recent interview with Total Film (via GamesRadar+), Mckay and Payne tease that a quarter of Bombadil's dialogue in The Rings of Power season 2 is actually pulled directly from Tolkien's own writing. To craft the rest, the show's writers took a very close look at exactly how Tolkien adapted AngloSaxon verse for his book. Check out Payne's comment about Bombadil below:

"It was the opportunity, not of one lifetime, but many lifetimes, to write Tom Bombadil. One of the moments I love best about this season is when The Stranger asks, 'Who are you?' And Bombadil just says, 'Eldest.' He's wacky and sings songs, but when he says that, you get this sense of, 'Oh, he's been around for thousands of years.'"

How Will Tom Bombadil Fit Into The Rings Of Power Season 2?

What Role He Plays In J.R.R. Tolkien's Books

Although he doesn't make it into Peter Jackson's hit movie adaptation, Bombadil plays a small but notable role in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Before Frodo and his companions make it to the Prancing Pony Inn where they meet Aragorn, the Hobbits find themselves in trouble in the Old Forest. Bombadil arrives to rescue the Hobbits and frees them from Old Man Willow, and he later saves them once more when they encounter a Barrow-wight.

Barrow-wights are also confirmed to appear in The Rings of Power season 2.

Considering The Rings of Power takes a fairly serious approach to its Middle-earth story, Bomabadil is a somewhat surprising addition to season 2. The character speaks mostly in rhyme and sing-song, and he's something of an outlier compared to other Lord of the Rings characters. Bombadil may be carefree and eccentric, but he's clearly also very powerful. It's never explicitly revealed what kind of being Bombadil is, but his resistance to the One Ring's influence could suggest that he's more powerful than wizards like Gandalf and Saruman.

Bomabadil is also confirmed to know Gandalf in the books, and the fact that he's set to meet with The Stranger (Daniel Weyman) could confirm the tease in The Rings of Power's season 1 finale that suggests The Stranger is actually Gandalf. Bombadil's inclusion could also mean that viewers will get to return to some familiar locations like the Old Forest. Many questions remain about Bombadil in The Rings of Power season 2, but he could end up being a significant figure in the story.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 premieres on Prime Video on August 29, 2024.

Source: Total Film (via GamesRadar+)